Fire proof fire block



Aug. 1, 1961 J. F. BLACK FIRE PROOF FIRE BLOCK Filed May 2, 1958 INVENTOR. c//IM6' FEM c/ BY J15 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,994,114 FIRE PROOF FIRE BLOCK James F. Black, 174 W. 8th St., Peru, Ind. Filed May 2, 1958, Ser. No. 732,592 1 Claim. (Cl. 20-4) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a fire proof fire block and more particularly to a metal fire block adapted to be disposed between supporting studs of the wall structure of a building.

Another object of my invention is in the provision in a device of this character of a method whereby such fire block is longitudinally adjustable to compensate for varying distances between wall supporting studs to which it is adapted to be mounted.

Yet another object of my invention is in the provision in a device of this character of a novel means for attaching a fire block to the wall supporting studs.

Still another object of my invention is in the provision in a device of this character of a method of making a fire block which is simple in construction and economical in cost.

Other objects will appear herein after.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing my improved fire blocks mounted between wall supporting studs;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank of material from which my fire block is formed; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of my fire block in condition to be mounted to wall supporting studs.

My invention relates to a fire block that is to be installed between the normal wall supporting studs. Under present day building codes, many cities and/ or States require of the contractor, the installation of some form of fire blocks in the constructing of buildings.

My improved fire block as illustrated in FIG. 2 is made from a blank of metal material 10. This blank consists of a rectangularly shaped body 11. At opposite ends of such body 11 and extending from corresponding opposite sides thereof are integral legs 12 and 13. Score lines 14 and are formed between the legs 12 and 13 respectively at their juncture with the body 11. These score lines 14 and 15 permit the legs 12 and 13 to be bent relative to the longitudinal plane of the body 11, in a manner and for a purpose hereinafter made apparent.

Portions 16 and 17 of the body 11 at opposite ends thereof are distinguished from such body 11 by score lines 18 and 19. These portions 16 and 17 are of a width equal to the width of the legs 12 and 13 as viewed in FIG. 2. These score lines 18 and 19 permit the end portions 16 and 17 to be bent out of the longitudinal plane of the body 11 in a manner and for the purpose hereinafter made apparent.

The body 11 is provided with a series of score lines 20 extending transversely thereof with the endmost score lines equally distanced from the score lines 18 and 19. The body 11 as well as the portions 21 and 22 between the score lines 20 is provided with spaced apart parallelly extending ribs 23 and 24 with such ribs extending in a parallel direction with respect to the longitudinal plane of the body 11. The body 11 between the ribs 23 and 24 has formed therein circular perforations defining knockout slugs 25.

Each of the legs 12 and 13 is provided with a circular score line 26 and 27 respectively. Extending radially inward of the circular score lines 26 and 27 are cuts 28 and 2,994,114 Patented Aug. 1, 1961 29 respectively. The purpose and function of such cuts 28 and 29 will be hereinafter explained.

In mounting my improved fire block between the studs 30 of a building construction, the blank of material 10 is formed as shown by FIG. 3. The end portions 16 and 17 of the body 11 have been folded along their corresponding score lines 18 and 19 in a downwardly depending position as seen in FIG. 3. The legs 12 and 13 are bent along their corresponding score lines 14 and 15 into a vertical plane that extends at right angles to the folded end portions 17 and 16 as viewed in FIG. 3. The body 11 has the portions 21 and 22 thereof formed into a raised position along their corresponding score lines 20 as seen in FIG. 3. The fire block is then positioned between studs 30 as viewed in FIG. 1 with the end portions 16 and 17 in facial abutment with the corresponding opposite faces of such studs 30 as seen in FIG. 1. The legs 12 and 13 embrace corresponding opposite edges of adjacent studs 30 as viewed in FIG. 1. The portions 21 and 22 of the body 11 may be raised relative to the body 11 various degrees so as to vary the length of the body 11 according to the required distance between adjacent studs 30. In FIG. 1, it will be noted that the fire block A has its portions 21 and 22 raised in a different degree as compared to the fire block B between the next set of adjacent studs 30.

When the legs 12 and 13 embrace the corresponding opposite ends of adjacent studs 30, a sharp tool may be placed at the apex of the cuts 28 and 29 and struck with a hammer so as to cause the triangular portions formed by said cuts 28 and 29 to become embedded into the studs to fixedly attach the fire block in its desired position.

As viewed in FIG. 1, the knock-out slugs 25 may be removed to permit the passing through thereof of electrical conduits 31 or the like.

The ribbing 23 and 24 of the body 11 is for the purpose of adding rigidity to such body portions notwithstanding the ability to raise the portions 21 and 22 with respect thereto.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A fire block comprising a relatively flat plate-like member adapted to extend between adjacent studs of a wall, a downwardly extending portion at each end of said plate for engaging a face of an adjacent stud, laterally extending extensions formed integral with and at each end of said portion for engaging the opposite sides of said adjacent studs, and attaching means struck from said lateral extensions when said member is arranged between said adjacent studs for connecting said member to said studs, said member having spaced apart parallelly extending bending lines extending transversely of the member intermediate its ends to vary the width of said member by bending said member along said lines.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 332,491 Clay Dec. 15, 1885 498,563 Montgillion May 30, 1893 979,373 Brasseur Dec. 20, 1910 1,428,881 Dyar Sept. 12, 1922 1,867,449 Ecket et al. July 12, 1932 2,742,778 Olmstead Apr. 24, 1956 

